Inspired by all three images for Day 12
Our Galaxy, Our Earth
“A galaxy is composed of gas and dust and stars – billions upon billions of stars. Every star may be a sun to someone.”
–Carl Sagan, Cosmos
There are castles and towers to hold and defend,
lighthouse beacons that rise from the sand
whose tiny grains were pounded from rock
then traveled on currents, volcanic shocks
that shifted and shook, forming craggy places
for conquerors and tourists, shell-filled spaces
cherished for history, beauty, charm,
there we walk, arm and arm
with ghosts of ancient people and things
that waft, hover, and take wing
as the sun beats down—our very own star—
Here, we are
the astronomer says, pointing to a tiny dot,
not even a speck, that spot
is our galaxy, and there our sun, please note it can’t be seen–
tinier still, our Earth’s blue and green,
the pale blue dot, our home, sea and land,
an infinitesimal speck resting on time’s endless sand.
I am once again participating in Paul Brookes’ April Ekphrastic Challenge. Each day, I will post my poem(s) here. You can see the art and read the other responses by going to Paul’s site here.
The artists are Gaynor Kane, John Phandal Law, and Anjum Wasim Dar. Thank you for your wonderful and inspiring art!
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
It’s always good to take a moment to remember how small we are: it makes our problems seem even smaller!
Thank you, Ingrid. Sometimes it does!
These are the lines that brought home our place in the cosmos for me, the effect of the end rhymes confirming it:
whose tiny grains were pounded from rock
then traveled on currents, volcanic shocks
that shifted and shook, forming craggy places
for conquerors and tourists, shell-filled spaces
Thank you so much for your close-reading and thoughtful comment, Liz!
You’re most welcome, Merril!
We had the same sort of idea. All those creations of ours are really very piddling when you think about everything that we’re not, how insignificant even our best efforts are. When we finally blow ourselves up, who in the entire universe will even notice?
It’s true, and funny (not) how we had the same idea.
It’s got so banal I only really notice the very odd similarities.
😊
I like especially the last part of the poem. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe!
We are but a speck in the grand cosmos!
Nicely done.
Thank you!
😊